Anti-swing cleat



March 24,1959 w. R. PENCE ANTI-SWING CLEAT Filed June 4, 1954.

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Will/27m RPen ce INVENTOR.

United .States Patent ANTI-SWING CLEAT William R. Pence, Memphis, Tenn.

Application June 4, 1954, Serial No. 434,395

1 Claim. (Cl. 248-28) Ths invention relates to a device for steadying and holding picture frames and more particularly to resilient members adapted to be adhesively secured to a picture frame or the like and the supporting surface for holding picture frames against swinging movement.

The primary object of this invention resides in the provision of an anti-swing cleat for use in conjunction with picture frames, clocks and other ornamental objects and the like for preventing the objects from swinging or otherwise becoming misaligned, which device is adapted to be easily attached and adjusted.

One of the advantages of this invention is that the picture or hanging object can be removed from the wall, for cleaning or other reasons, and replaced to its exact former position without removing either member of the anti-swing cleat. One member remains on the wall and the other remains on the picture or hanging object. This replacement in the exact former position has the advantage of covering the same space and any line of fade or soilure, as well as being accurate in alignment with ease.

Various type of steadying and holding devices exist but each of these devices require independent attachment to the supporting surface and to the picture frame. The construction of this invention features means whereby the entire device can be appended to the picture frame and when the picture frame has been properly aligned, the portion of the device adapted to be attached to the surface can then be adhesively bonded to the supporting surface.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of an anti-swinging cleat that is strong and durable, simple in construction and manufacture, which employs projecting teeth which are continuously resiliently engaged thereby permitting the entire device to absorb energy imparted by jarring or by gusts of wind so as to prolong the life and utility of the antiswing cleat, yet which is inexpensive to produce thereby' permitting wide distribution and use.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which a picture frame can be secured to a supporting surface utilizing the invention;

Figure 2 is another perspective view illustrating the picture frame raised with the resilient members comprising the invention having their projecting teeth disengaged;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view illustrating the device in use;

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view as taken along the plane of line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the resilient members.

With continuing reference to the accompanying draw- Patented Mar. 24, 1959 ings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates a wall or other suitable supporting surface on which it is desired to attach a picture frame as at 12 or other suitable object such as a mirror, clock, sign, or the like. It is to be recognized that this invention eliminates the necessity for attaching wires, nails, pins or the like which may mar the wall 10 or the picture frame 12.

When suspending the picture frame 12, picture wire or lines 14 are engaged about a hook 16 or the like, the picture wire 14 being attached to the picture frame 12.

A pair of resilient bar members 18 and 20 are provided for absorbing the energy imparted to the picture frame 12 or other object with which the invention is utilized should the picture frame 12 be jarred or subjected to a gust of wind or the like. These resilient members 18 and 20 are provided with a coating as-at 22 and 24, respectively, for adhesively bonding the resilient members 18 and 20 to the wall 10 or other supporting surface and to the picture frame 12.

The resilient members 18 and 20 are provided with a series of projecting teeth 26 and 28, respectively, which are square in cross-section and which are interspaced with recesses 30 and 32 which are equal in dimensions to the teeth 26 and 28 so that when the teeth 26 and 28 are interengaged, the teeth will be resilient and frictionally interlocked. It is noted that the resilient member 18 is provided with at least one more projecting tooth than is the resilient member 20 so that interadjustments of the picture frame 12 can be achieved without any overlap of the resilient member 20 with respect to the resilient member 18.

When the resilient members 18 and 20 are provided, they may have a backing of cloth or other suitable material as shown in Figure 5 designated by reference numeral 34 for enabling the ready handling of the resilient members 18 and 20 without the likelihood of the resilient members adhering to any other object. When the resilient members 18 and 20 are ready for utilization, the sheet 38 of fabric or the like may be peeled back and taken ofi.

The utilization of a number of interlocking resilient teeth insures against unnecessary wear while enabling the resilient members 18 and 20 to absorb energy which may be imparted upon the picture frame 12.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A device for adjustably holding an object hung on a vertical surface from swinging comprising a pair of elongated bar members having adhesively coated rear sides for attaching to an object and to a vertical surface on which the object is hung, said bar members having transverse resilient teeth of square cross-section on the other sides thereof interfitting frictionally to interlock the same and detachably attach said bar members together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,339,703 Green May 11, 1920 1,564,715 Russell Dec. 8, 1925 2,492,411 Barnes et a1. Dec. 27, 1949 2,532,162 Goss Nov. 28, 1950 2,643,840 Lanman June 30, 1953 

